Apr. 18, 2023
Packaging & Printing
In the grocery store, shoppers are accustomed to hearing “paper or plastic?” Patrons of coffee shops aren’t asked “paper or foam?” when they order a beverage to-go, but every cafe must decide whether to use paper or foam cups. Most coffee shops, as well as many cities and even the State of California, opt for paper, believing it’s the more environmentally friendly choice. While paper cups do decompose faster than polystyrene foam ones, the choice isn’t as clear-cut when other environmental factors are considered. So which ones are the best cups?
(Polystyrene cups are commonly called Styrofoam cups, but Styrofoam is a trademarked name for a similar product that’s used to insulate buildings. The foam used to make cups technically isn’t Styrofoam.)
Paper cups are commonly thought to be more environmentally friendly than polystyrene foam ones, because paper cups are made from trees — a renewable resource. In contrast, polystyrene is made from natural gas and petroleum — which are non-renewable — byproducts. Most paper cups are coated with a polyethylene plastic that’s derived from fossil fuels, however, thus reducing the advantage of paper cups.
Generally speaking, the process of manufacturing polystyrene cups uses fewer resources, and is therefore more environmentally friendly, than that of making paper cups. Paper cups decompose faster and is easier to recycle than foam ones, though, making them the better option when considering what happens after the cups are used.
Another consideration, which favors paper, is toxicity. Polystyrene cups can leach harmful chemicals, like benzene, especially when they’re microwaved, and animals sometimes mistake them for food and consume them. Paper cups — including polyethylene-coated ones — aren’t toxic, even when microwaved or eaten accidentally.
Because paper cups decompose faster and aren’t toxic, most people ultimately settle on them. When manufacturing is considered, paper may still hold the final edge, but the difference between paper and polystyrene cups’ environmental impact is small.
One Dutch study shows just how similar the environmental impacts of paper and polystyrene foam cups are when all factors are considered. The study looked at 10 categories of environmental impact, assessing each type of cup in each category. The researchers found that paper cups performed better in five categories, and polystyrene cups were better in the other five.
Compared to making paper cups, manufacturing polystyrene cups:
requires about 42 percent less water
needs about 17 percent less energy
uses 22 percent less petroleum to source materials and ship cups
doesn’t call for chemicals that can harm water if not disposed of properly, such as chlorine dioxide
doesn’t necessitate the cutting of trees
In contrast, when compared to foam cups, paper cups:
Related links:produce about 28 percent fewer greenhouse gasses
decompose in a landfill in 20 years, as opposed to 1 million-plus
decompose in water in just a few days, instead of 50 years
are far easier to recycle and recycled at a higher rate
aren’t toxic (see above)
Some companies are even working on developing compostable paper cups.
Much of the coffee industry, understandably, has chosen to go with paper cups over styrofoam ones. The environmental benefits of paper, though, are minimal. The best choice for the environment is, of course, to bring your own, reusable cup. With the average person in the United States drinking between 2.1 and 3 cups per day (most of us at Driftaway Coffee have 2 to 2.5 per day), opting for a reusable cup would save up to 3 cups each day have a significant environmental impact.
Drinking coffee from a reusable cup also has another advantage — it’s the most beautiful option. To see the cup most of us at Driftaway Coffee, which we think looks great, check out our pictures on Instagram.
It is obvious a Styrofoam cup insulates much better than paper. Just fill up both cups with hot liquid and hold them in your hands. The Styrofoam cup will be cool to touch, while the paper cup radiates the hot liquid inside the cup. The solution to the paper cup problem? Add more paper. Paper cup users are slipping on cardboard sleeves to help hold the paper cup without being burnt. The most common place this phenomenon has become the norm is in coffee shops. While most hot-cup sleeves are made from recycled materials and are recyclable, it is still an added item to a simple Styrofoam cup.
If you’re concerned with making the eco-friendly choice between the two, Styrofoam wins on many fronts. Unless you’re using a paper cup that is biodegradable (most are not), there are some aspects to consider. A standard paper cup takes more than 20 years to decompose in a landfill environment. This is mostly due to the wax lining on the inside of the cup. The trendy paper cup also takes more energy, raw material and money to make. For example, in comparison to Styrofoam, a paper cup requires 12 times the amount of water, 36 times the amount of electricity and costs double the amount of money to produce. Shocking, I know.
Speaking of cost, the typical paper cup costs around two-and-a-half times the amount of a Styrofoam cup. Aside from the production of the cup, if you add the cardboard sleeve and its production, raw material, energy and shipping needs, you need to throw in an additional 2-3 cents per cup. Modifying or customizing a Styrofoam cup is nearly half the price of customizing a paper cup. The bottom line is that paper cups are more than double the price to produce and require a cardboard sleeve if you want to save your fingertips. When it boils down, it appears that going with Styrofoam is more eco-friendly compared to a paper cup. There are better ways to drink your hot beverages, such as using a reusable tumbler, coffee mug or other container you wash and use over and over. If you have to use a disposable paper cup, find out if the establishment you are buying your drink from uses biodegradable cups. If they do, that is the way to go. As the cup industry moves away from the traditional method of manufacturing the current unrecyclable paper cup into a more biodegradable version, the battle between Styrofoam and paper cups may take a turn. In a scenario where the paper cup is biodegradable, a paper cup may win.
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